U.S. Secures Third Straight Bridges Cup in Thrilling 17-15 Victory over Internationals
The United States secured their third consecutive Bridges Cup victory, narrowly defeating the International team 17-15 at Haesley Nine Bridges in South Korea. This elite mid-amateur competition, structured similar to the Ryder Cup, showcased high-level amateur golfers with significant tournament experience.
The Americans dominated early, establishing a 5-1 lead in Monday's four-ball matches. However, the International team mounted a strong comeback, closing the gap to just two points before Wednesday's singles matches.
The final day proved dramatic as the International side showed early promise with victories from Matthew McClean, Hugh Foley, and Lukas Michel. Drew Kittleson shifted momentum back to Team USA with a crucial 2-and-1 win over Jacob Austin. The Americans then sealed victory by winning five of the final eight matches, with Scott Anderson, Andrew Medley, and Drew Stoltz each securing decisive 5-and-4 wins.
The Bridges Cup, a partnership between CJ Group and 8AM Golf, has previously been held at Nine Bridges (Jeju Island, 2022) and Les Bordes (France, 2023). This year's competition at Haesley Nine Bridges maintained the tournament's tradition of featuring world-class venues and intense competition.
International captain Simon Holt reflected on the narrow defeat: "We never thought it was ever lost. We rallied like mad, but, in the end, we simply ran out of holes." The competitive nature and high-quality play demonstrated why the Bridges Cup has quickly established itself as a premier mid-amateur team event in global golf.